Soap package



May 5, 1953 M. s. BANKS SOAP PACKAGE Filed Feb. 16. 1949 INVENTOR 17/7/1111! 6'. Bank:

ATTORNEY Patented May 5, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This application relates to detergent methods, relates particularly to single use equipment, and relates particularly to a combination of single service fiber towel and a specially packaged soap cartridge, whereby the combination is particularly adapted to handling through vending machines in public places generally.

As is shown in my prior filed application, Serial No. 675,319, filed June 12, 1946, now ma tured into Patent No. 2,539,395, issued January 30, 1951, it is possible to produce an exceedingly convenient soap package in which soap flak-es or soap particles or other detergents such as the various synthetics are consolidated in a disintegrable open ended paper wrapper, the combination being very convenient for vending to individ ual users or for carrying in appropriate packages in pockets, handbags and the like, whereby the lightly bonded soap particles in the disintegrable paper wrapper are conveniently available for the washing of hands, face and the like; each package of soap being suitable for one washing of hands or face. However, this soapture lacks an element, in that it does not include any means for drying hands or face after the completion of a washing or lathering procedure.

According to the present invention, there is now produced a combination of fiber towel and soap cartridge in which all of the materials for washing ones hands or face, or both, are included in a single unitary package particularly well adapted for vending in ordinary vending Inachinery, or for simple distribution to guests in the home or in semi-public places where the distribution is made without cost to the user, or for convenient carrying in a users pocket or in a handbag or the like.

Thus, according to the present invention, a suitable quantity of soap particles are packaged in a disintegrable paper wrapper such that the user may place the cartridge of lightly bonded soap particles in disintegrable paper, in the palm of one hand, add a small amount of water to the cartridge, work up the lather in the usual way, whereupon the disintegrable paper disappears completely and the lather maybe used either for the hands, or for the face, or both, without interference from the presence of paper fibers, and Without any necessity for disposing of fragments of paper or paper wrappers or the like. This soap cartridge is then packaged with a fiber towel, preferably of high absorbent power and good body. The fiber towel preferably is a material of relatively high water absorbent power, preferably non-woven fiber such as a paper type of fiber, or bonded cotton or the like, the requirements being merely reasonably good water absorbent properties, and at least of reasonably physical strength sufficient to hold the towel in an integral piece during vending and a single usage. The individual fiber towel and soap cartridge assemblies may then be wrapped in cellophane for individual vending and use, or a substantial number of the fiber towel-soap cartridge combinations may be packaged in an appropriate small box for sale to the householder or for general sale as desired.

The preferred embodiment utilizes a paper or felted or bonded cotton type of towel because of the inexpensive character. The use of a woven fabric towel is not excluded however, although the relatively high cost of laundering makes a woven towel undesirable.

Thus, the invention provides in a readily vendable form from automatic vending machinery, a combination fiber towel and soap cartridge which is suitable for transportation and prolonged stor--- age without damage or deterioration and is es pecially suitable for immediate and convenient as when hands or face are to be washed. It may be noted that the single service, disposable toweh ing is of such character as to yield substantial protection to the soap package, whereby the chances of breakage of the soap package by tearing of the paper and dispersion of the soap particles or flakes are greatly reduced or avoided. That is, the paper towel serves first as a protective wrapper, secondly as a padding means for preventing damage to the soap cartridge, and thirdly as its normal function of towel for drying face or hands, whereby a much more efhcient assembly is obtained. This combination is particularly advantageous because of the fact that the paper towel supplies in one element the function of drying a users hands after washing them, of padding a fragile soap package and of simplifying the vending problems because of the greater size and more solid construction. Other objects and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the towel partially opened, showing the location of the soap cartridge;

Figure 2 is a View of the towel with the soap cartridge folded in place, the whole enclosed in cellophane wrapper; and

Figure 3 is a view of a package containing a substantial number of towel and soap combinations with a convenient front opening for ready removal of the soap and towel combination.

According to the invention, there is first pre pared an appropriate paper towel, which preferably is of a very soft and fluffy highly absorbent fiber such as paper fiber, bonded cotton fiber, matted cotton fiber on a woven base, or even standard woven toweling, well matted together to give a reasonably good strength. This fiber towel is then folded several times, in order to bring it into a reasonably small compass in which the width is about two inches and the length about three inches as shown in Figure l at i. This fiber towel may be ornamented by printing or other means to add thereto whatever embellishment, instructions or advertising matter may be deemed desirable. Before the last fold is made in the paper, there is added, in one of the folds, a soap cartridge, 2, preferably consisting of soap particles or flakes, packaged in a disintegrable paper wrapper of the type of Japanese rice paper or cigarette paper or the like. The only requirement upon the paper is that it shall be thin and readily disintegrable in water so that the soap is not firmly held when moisture is applied. For the soap, almost any convenient shreddable or pulverizable detergent may be used. Soap flakes are excellent, powdered soap is equally good. For rapid. lathering it is desirable that the soap material shall be fairly well comminuted in order to provide as large and as active service as possible so that rapid solution and lathering is obtained.

The last fold may then be closed over the soap cartridge and the soap and towel combination is then ready for packaging. For general vending in automatic vending machinery, it is usually convenient to wrap the towel and soap combination in a wrapper of some type which conveniently is cellophane because of the ready visibility of the towel through the wrapper. Cellophane is not however necessary since glassine paper is convenient, or a more durable type of paper such as a high grade craft or bond paper may be used. Where the cost of the wrapper is regarded as an essential item, almost any kind of wrapper may be used so long as it will stand a reasonable amount of handling during the vending.

The towel may be folded as above outlined, or it may be rolled, as desired with the soap cartridge wrapped within the rolled towel to provide the necessary protection and at the same time make the soap cartridge readily and conveniently available. Whether folded or rolled, the towel and its contained soap cartridge may be held in folded or rolled condition by a pasted paper tape around the package, or by a complete wrapping with twisted or pasted ends, or the folded or wrapped towel and contained soap cartridge may be individually boxed in heavy paper or cardboard containers, or in a tube of the type known as mailing tube.

There are no limitations upon the type of packaging other than that the towel shall provide reasonable protection for the soap cartridge. That is, the soap cartridge may be wrapped or folded in the center of the towel to require a more or less complete opening up of the towel to obtain the soap, or the soap cartridge may be held near the edge of the towel so as to be available with very minor opening of the towel, and many other forms of packaging than those above disclosed will be evident to one skilled in the art.

Packages for ordinary vending may be merely wrapped in paper or cardboard. For tropical service a tin or aluminum foil wrapping may be provided, or an extruded lead cover may be provided, as is done for many other articles. Alternatively, a waxed paper wrapper may be used, heat-sealed to produce a water-tight package which is especially desirable where the humidity is high or there is danger of submersion in water. Likewise, rubber or plastic films or rubberized or plastic-coated paper may be used for the wrapper, and on occasion, even tin containers may .4 be desirable, depending upon the service to be obtained. A tin container, of course, has the advantage that the entire towel and soap assembly may be heat-sterilized, as for hospital service.

Alternatively, it may be convenient to package the soap and towel assemblies in substantial numbers as is shown in Figure 3. In this embodiment, the folded towels I, with the fragile soap cartridge 2 placed in each, may be stacked preferably with the soap packages on alternate sides of the box as shown in Figure 3. For this purpose a light cardboard box 3 is convenient and there need be present in the cardboard merely enough strength to hold the group of towels in place until they are used. In this instance also, the cardboard box may be printed or otherwise decorated with advertising, descriptive, or instructive literature as desired.

In Fig. 3 the box is identified by the numeral 3, and the towels are identified by the numeral I, and the successive soap cartridges are indicated by dotted lines and number 2.

Thus, the structure of the invention provides a soap and towel combination which is particularly durable and rugged before use, which is particularly adapted to vending in automatic machinery, or to carrying in pockets or handbags or the like, in which the soap is packaged in paper which disappears during usage, and the towel serves the multiplicity of purposes of a wrapper for the soap, protection for the soap and wiping means after use of the soap.

While there are above disclosed but a limited number of embodiments of the structure of the invention, it is possible to provide still other embodiments Without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed, and it is therefore desired that only such limitations be imposed upon the appended claims as are stated therein, or required by the prior art.

The invention claimed is:

In combination, a single service amount of soap particles, adapted to substantially instantaneous solution in water, an open ended water disintegratable wrapper therearound holding said soap particles fragilely in cylindrical form, a fragile, disposable fiber towel folded in substantially flat form about said soa particles in the water disintegratable wrapper, said cylinder of soap particles having a length less than the fold of said towel, positioned substantially medially in said fold, the two serving to strengthen and reinforce each other sufficiently to permit shipping and vending while holding each other in proper form, the soap and water disintegratable wrapper being adapted to quick disintegration in the presence of water to yield a good'lather, the paper towel being adapted to support the soap cartridge, substantially to close the ends of said cylinder.

MILLARD S. BANKS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,077,403 Fricke Nov. 4, 1913 1,346,441 Cannon July 13, 1920 1,608,934 Goldsmith Nov. 30, 1926 1,678,370 Vaughan July 24, 1923 2,163,228 Jorling June 20, 1939 2,233,896 Nelson Mar. 4, 1941 2,539,395 Banks Jan. 30, 1951 

